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Q.&A.: Bolstering Android’s Battery Life

My Android phone seems to run through its battery charge on a daily basis. Is there a way I can conserve some power?

A.

Like most full-featured smartphones with big color screens — and the ability to do much more than make phone calls —Android-based phones can suffer from rapid battery drain. On recent versions of the Android system, you can see just what’s slurping up the juice by visiting the Settings area and choosing the About Phone menu. From there, choose the Battery Use option to see a chart of the apps and functions are pulling the most power from the battery.

Even without a specific list of battery hogs, one way to preserve power is to turn off features you may not need all the time. Location-based apps are fun and helpful, but leaving the phone’s GPS chip on all the time takes its toll on the battery. Turning off the GPS chip, as well as Bluetooth connectivity if you’re not using it, can save power. The Power Control widget included with the Android system gives you quick access to the Bluetooth, GPS and other main components that burn down battery life.

Unless you have a lot of vital apps that need a constant Internet connection, turning off the “always on” mobile data feature in the Settings area can buy more time as well. Apps that stream audio and video are typically power hogs, so use those sparingly if you see your battery draining down before you can get someplace to recharge.

The screen is another component of the phone that can take a hit on battery life. Keeping the screen brightness turned down, using dark backgrounds and static wallpaper (instead of live wallpaper) might help squeeze out more time between charges.

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Gadgetwise is a blog about everything related to buying and using tech products. From figuring out which gadget to buy and how to get the best deal on it to configuring it once it’s out of the box, Gadgetwise offers a mix of information, analysis and opinion to help you get the most out of your personal tech.